About Rheumatoid Arthritis
A normal joint (the place where two bones meet) is surrounded by a joint capsule that protects and supports it (see illustration). Cartilage covers and cushions the ends of the two bones. The joint capsule is lined with a type of tissue called synovium, which produces synovial fluid. This clear fluid lubricates and nourishes the cartilage and bones inside the joint capsule.
In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system, for unknown reasons, attacks a person's own cells inside the joint capsule. White blood cells that are part of the normal immune system travel to the synovium and cause a reaction. This reaction, or inflammation, is called synovitis, and it results in the warmth, redness, swelling, and pain that are typical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. During the inflammation process, the cells of the synovium grow and divide abnormally, making the normally thin synovium thick and resulting in a joint that is swollen and puffy to the touch (see illustration).
As rheumatoid arthritis progresses, these abnormal synovial cells begin to invade and destroy the cartilage and bone within the joint. The surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tendons that support and stabilize the joint become weak and unable to work normally. All of these effects lead to the pain and deformities often seen in rheumatoid arthritis. Doctors studying rheumatoid arthritis now believe that damage to bones begins during the first year or two that a person has the disease. This is one reason early diagnosis and treatment are so important in the management of rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is traditionally considered a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the joints. It is a disabling and painful inflammatory condition, which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. For more detailed information on Rheumatoid Arthritis click here to view Wikipedia.
In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system, for unknown reasons, attacks a person's own cells inside the joint capsule. White blood cells that are part of the normal immune system travel to the synovium and cause a reaction. This reaction, or inflammation, is called synovitis, and it results in the warmth, redness, swelling, and pain that are typical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. During the inflammation process, the cells of the synovium grow and divide abnormally, making the normally thin synovium thick and resulting in a joint that is swollen and puffy to the touch (see illustration).
As rheumatoid arthritis progresses, these abnormal synovial cells begin to invade and destroy the cartilage and bone within the joint. The surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tendons that support and stabilize the joint become weak and unable to work normally. All of these effects lead to the pain and deformities often seen in rheumatoid arthritis. Doctors studying rheumatoid arthritis now believe that damage to bones begins during the first year or two that a person has the disease. This is one reason early diagnosis and treatment are so important in the management of rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is traditionally considered a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the joints. It is a disabling and painful inflammatory condition, which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. For more detailed information on Rheumatoid Arthritis click here to view Wikipedia.
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more joints. Cartilage is a protein substance that serves as a "cushion" between the bones of the joints. Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative arthritis. Among the over 100 different types of arthritis conditions, osteoarthritis is the most common. Osteoarthritis occurs more frequently as we age. Before age 45, osteoarthritis occurs more frequently in males. After age 55 years, it occurs more frequently in females.
What causes Osteoarthritis?
Primary osteoarthritis is mostly related to aging. With aging, the water content of the cartilage increases and the protein makeup of cartilage degenerates. Repetitive use of the joints over the years irritates and inflames the cartilage, causing joint pain and swelling. Eventually, cartilage begins to degenerate by flaking or forming tiny crevasses. In advanced cases, there is a total loss of the cartilage cushion between the bones of the joints. Loss of cartilage cushion causes friction between the bones, leading to pain and limitation of joint mobility. Inflammation of the cartilage can also stimulate new bone outgrowths (spurs) to form around the joints. Osteoarthritis occasionally can be found in multiple members of the same family, implying an heredity (genetic) basis for this condition.
Treatment of Osteoarthritis
Aside from weight reduction and avoiding activities that exert excessive stress on the joint cartilage, there is no specific treatment to halt cartilage degeneration or to repair damaged cartilage in osteoarthritis. The goal of treatment in osteoarthritis is to reduce joint pain and inflammation while improving and maintaining joint function. Some patients with osteoarthritis have minimal or no pain, and may not need treatment. Others may benefit from conservative measures such as rest, exercise, weight reduction, physical and occupational therapy, and mechanical support devices. These measures are particularly important when large, weight-bearing joints are involved, such as the hips or knees. In fact, even modest weight reduction can help to decrease symptoms of osteoarthritis of the large joints, such as the knees and hips.
Psoratic Arthritis: What is it?
Psoriatic Arthritis is different from Rheumatoid arthritis. The association between psoriasis and arthritis has been recognised for many years. Approximately 5-10% of persons with psoriasis have psoriatic arthritis. This form of arthritis is similar to, but distant from, rheumatoid arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis was identified as a separate from of arthritis in part through the discovery of the rheumatoid factor. This factor is an anti-gamma globulin antibody found in the blood of 70% of rheumatoid arthritis patients, but absent from the blood of most patients who have psoriatic arthritis. The conclusion that psoriatic arthritis is distant from rheumatoid arthritis is further supported by other clinical signs identified in recent years.
Symptoms
The initial symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are like those of other types of arthritis. There can generally be discomfort, pain, throbbing, swelling of single or multiple joints and tenderness in any joint. Some joints are particularly apt to be involved, including the last joint in the fingers or toes, sacrum (lower back), wrists, knees, or ankles. Inflammation in the joints may stimulate nerve endings causing pain. Exactly how this happens and how it relates to psoriasis on the skin is unknown. Other symptoms include morning stiffness and fatigue. Some persons will also develop inflammatory eye diseases, including conjunctivitis. Nail changes may also occur.
What causes Osteoarthritis?
Primary osteoarthritis is mostly related to aging. With aging, the water content of the cartilage increases and the protein makeup of cartilage degenerates. Repetitive use of the joints over the years irritates and inflames the cartilage, causing joint pain and swelling. Eventually, cartilage begins to degenerate by flaking or forming tiny crevasses. In advanced cases, there is a total loss of the cartilage cushion between the bones of the joints. Loss of cartilage cushion causes friction between the bones, leading to pain and limitation of joint mobility. Inflammation of the cartilage can also stimulate new bone outgrowths (spurs) to form around the joints. Osteoarthritis occasionally can be found in multiple members of the same family, implying an heredity (genetic) basis for this condition.
Treatment of Osteoarthritis
Aside from weight reduction and avoiding activities that exert excessive stress on the joint cartilage, there is no specific treatment to halt cartilage degeneration or to repair damaged cartilage in osteoarthritis. The goal of treatment in osteoarthritis is to reduce joint pain and inflammation while improving and maintaining joint function. Some patients with osteoarthritis have minimal or no pain, and may not need treatment. Others may benefit from conservative measures such as rest, exercise, weight reduction, physical and occupational therapy, and mechanical support devices. These measures are particularly important when large, weight-bearing joints are involved, such as the hips or knees. In fact, even modest weight reduction can help to decrease symptoms of osteoarthritis of the large joints, such as the knees and hips.
Psoratic Arthritis: What is it?
Psoriatic Arthritis is different from Rheumatoid arthritis. The association between psoriasis and arthritis has been recognised for many years. Approximately 5-10% of persons with psoriasis have psoriatic arthritis. This form of arthritis is similar to, but distant from, rheumatoid arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis was identified as a separate from of arthritis in part through the discovery of the rheumatoid factor. This factor is an anti-gamma globulin antibody found in the blood of 70% of rheumatoid arthritis patients, but absent from the blood of most patients who have psoriatic arthritis. The conclusion that psoriatic arthritis is distant from rheumatoid arthritis is further supported by other clinical signs identified in recent years.
Symptoms
The initial symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are like those of other types of arthritis. There can generally be discomfort, pain, throbbing, swelling of single or multiple joints and tenderness in any joint. Some joints are particularly apt to be involved, including the last joint in the fingers or toes, sacrum (lower back), wrists, knees, or ankles. Inflammation in the joints may stimulate nerve endings causing pain. Exactly how this happens and how it relates to psoriasis on the skin is unknown. Other symptoms include morning stiffness and fatigue. Some persons will also develop inflammatory eye diseases, including conjunctivitis. Nail changes may also occur.
